Rating and value of works, drawings, paintings by Emile Friant

If you own a work by or based on the artist Émile Friant and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can help you. Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market. Then, if you wish to sell your work of art, we will guide you towards the best possible means of obtaining the best possible price.

Artist's rating and value

Primarily known for his portraits and genre scenes, Émile Friant is highly regarded on the market. Quite common in auction rooms, the price at which they sell ranges from €10 to €367,270, a considerable difference, but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to the artist's works. In 2005, his oil on canvas Cast Shadows fetched over €300,000.

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

Artist's style and technique

Émile Friant's naturalistic works are characterized by an obvious veracity that attests to a great sensitivity. His artistic style is meticulous, full of details that testify to a remarkable mastery of the representation of textures and shades of light.

A prodigy of portraiture and genre scenes, Émile Friant's paintings depict characters in everyday or intimate situations.

Technically, Émile Friant's color palette is refined and harmonious. His tones are realistic, combined with subtle plays of light and delicate transitions between light and shadow.

The life of Émile Friant

Émile Friant (1863-1932) began his apprenticeship at Nancy's municipal drawing school. He studied with Théodore Devilly, who encouraged him to work from reality and not copy the paintings of his predecessors in an academic manner. A very promising student, the city of Nancy grants him a scholarship to continue his art studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.  

After arriving in Paris, Émile Friant joined the studio of the famous Alexandre Cabanel and spent all his spare time in museums and art galleries. He soon developed a boundless admiration for the works of Gérôme and Meissonnier, whose attention to detail he particularly appreciated, as well as those of Bastien-Lepage, in whom he rediscovered his taste for nature.

The artist's imprint on his era

Émile Friant exhibits at many art fairs. The success of some of his works launched his artistic career and enabled him to obtain a grant. With the money he had earned, Friant traveled to several European countries and the Maghreb. From his peregrinations, Friant brought back landscapes taken from life and some fine portraits, drawn or painted.

Émile Friant won a special prize at the 1889 Salon for his large-scale painting La Toussaint. Enjoying immense popularity, this painting gave the artist international renown. The same year, the artist was awarded the Légion d'Honneur and the Gold Medal at the Universal Exhibition. 

From the 1890s onwards, Émile Friant was in great demand. He carried out several large-scale public commissions for cities and the French state. At the same time, he became a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

During the First World War, Friant put his artistic talent at the service of France to support national defense initiatives. He became a committed artist, designing patriotic posters and vouchers to encourage participation in the war effort.

His signature 

Not all Émile Friant's works are signed.

Although there are variations, here is a first example of its signature:

Appraising your property

If you happen to own a work by or after Émile Friant, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our form on our website. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the value of your work, and will ensure that you receive all the relevant information about it. If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also be on hand to offer you alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market trends and specificities.